Mega solar project gets green light
The Tillbridge Solar Project development consent order (DCO) application has been granted development consent by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero paving the way for creating UK’s biggest solar farm.
The scheme consists of a generating station with an anticipated capacity in excess of 50MW, comprising ground mounted solar arrays, with associated development comprising energy storage, grid connection infrastructure and other associated development for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the facility. Once built, it will generate enough electricity to power 300,000 UK homes.
The Tillbridge Solar project will be near the village of Glentworth in northwest Lincolnshire and span approximately 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares) of prime farmland.
The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Tillbridge Solar Limited, a joint venture between Tribus Clean Energy and Canada’s Recurrent Energy, in April 2024 and accepted for examination the following month.
Following an examination during which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the examining authority, recommendations were made to secretary of state Ed Miliband in July this year.
Keith McKinney, general manager, UK & Ireland at Recurrent Energy, said: “Tillbridge is one of the most significant solar projects planned for the UK to date and we’re thrilled to see the ambition behind it backed by the government today with their decision to award consent. Through our plans, we’ll not only deliver clean energy for hundreds of thousands of homes, but develop the project in a way that gives back to the environment around it, and supports the local communities it is rooted in.”
Energy minister Michael Shanks said: “Families across Lincolnshire and the rest of the country have seen their energy bills go through the roof as a result of our exposure to volatile gas prices. Solar is one of the cheapest and quickest power sources we can build, it is crucial in our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower – giving us energy security, good jobs and growth across the country.”
Trade association Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett added: "We all need cheaper power – and solar farms are the cheapest source of electricity in the UK. The larger they are, the more they benefit from economies of scale. The area needed to deliver the UK’s solar aspirations over the coming years is a tiny fraction of agricultural land that will have no meaningful impact on food production. Solar farms are helping to keep farmers growing food by delivering a stable and reliable income, protected from the vagaries of market conditions and adverse weather.”
Roger Mortlock, chief executive of countryside charity CPRE noted: “The approval of a mega solar farm covering an area of high-quality farmland the size of Heathrow Airport highlights a deeply concerning trend: industrialising the countryside with ground-mounted solar while too many rooftops remain unused”.
The development is expected to create up to 1200 jobs.